Membership Process
In this packet you should find what you need to become an organizational member / space-user at The Warren:
1. New Member process
2. Member Responsibilities
3. About The Warren
Important Logistics
Mission
Vision
Values
History
How we run our meetings
1. HOW DOES ONE BECOME A MEMBER?
a) Get a TOUR of the space (contact us to schedule a time to see the space: thewarren@riseup.net)
b) Read the above packet and fill out the Application Form, which can be dropped off at The Warren, mailed to 30 E Virginia st Evansville Indiana 47711, emailed to thewarren@riseup.net or brought to a general meeting, which are each month.
c) Come to a GENERAL MEETING to present your interest in a space. Remember to bring the application form if you haven’t gotten it to us. This will be a chance to ask us questions and we will ask you questions to make sure you fit the overall vision of the space. Expect 5-20 minutes of the meeting to discuss your membership. You are encouraged to stay and see how we run our meetings, then we might put it on the agenda for the next meeting or ask you to leave before the last agenda item so we can discuss your application in your absence.
d) The Perspective Members committee will be in touch with you after that meeting with more questions or to set up a plan for you to get an orientation, move in/set up mailbox, etc.
2. Responsibilities of Members
– Have a representative at Member meetings (6 times a year).
– Have a representative at general meetings (10 times a year).
– If possible, identify a consistent liaison to each member and general assembly (to maintain organizational consistency and train people in these skills, as well as for communication purposes)
– Participate in at least one committee (finance, outreach, or building usually meet monthly).
– Each member has one chore as decided upon during member approval process (chores can change yearly or by special circumstance).
– Participate in at least one fundraising activity per year (this can include grant writing, organizing events, selling tickets, staffing a table, helping with a mailing, etc.).
– Sign a lease agreement if applicable.
3. ALL ABOUT The Warren
Important Logistical Issues about The Warren:
The Warren is a collective project that depends on the collaboration of the many who are involved.
Any partnering group has at least one individual who is a member and regularly attends Warren meetings (this individual can change or rotate if needed but consistency is appreciated).
Warren meetings are held monthly and are run through a consensus process (more info below).
Members have priority in booking use of community rooms or kitchen, which is done by writing the event on the online calendar. If the event will take up more than 2 spaces, or repeats for more than 3 months, it must be brought to a general meeting for approval.
Members can sponsor others who want to use the space and are then responsible for what goes on for that event including opening / closing the building and ensuring that it is cleaned up or repaired if damaged.
The Warren encourages composting for the adjacent gardens, Vlangbendeng.
Mission:
The mission of The Warren is to build autonomous power by connecting and enriching groups and individuals in our communities who are working for grass roots change in Evansville. We are building community and economies based in cooperation and creativity while resisting oppression and gentrification.
Our Vision is to collectively own access* to a building in which community members can create a space that meets and honors the needs of the community. Another part of our vision is a community center that really belongs to and meets the needs of the neighborhood in which we are located.
Values:
We are committed to empowering members to actively participate in the ownership and decision making process of this community space. We will strive to:
• Maintain mutual space for all members
• Work together for the common good
• Operate through consensus-based decision-making
• Be supportive of people outside of mainstream society
• Share resources
• Be a focal point for energy in the community
History:
The future of The Warren is as a confluence of the flow of many different projects and it comes out of a similar history of many projects converging.
The initiative of The Warren came from a handful of people working in overlapping projects that focused on: housing, food autonomy, alternative press, solidarity events, prison abolition, radical research, etc
Many of the social configurations of these projects relied on the daily proximity of collective neighborhood ownership.
As an effort to commit to the intimacy of organizing as neighbors – we wanted to also secure a space in an area that allowed for strangers to interact so their efforts could converge but still move past one another in their separate directions.
How we run our meetings:
In making decisions, we strive for consensus (all in agreement). If a consensus cannot be reached in 2 attempts at pure consensus, the decision is brought to a supermajority vote of three quarters of the membership.
Working groups make decisions that pertain to their sphere of activity, including task-oriented or everyday decisions. Working groups are accountable to the general membership and actively report actions and decisions to the general meetings. Working groups include Outreach and Membership, Building and Renovations, and Fundraising and Finance.
AGENDA
Agenda items are collected from a previous meeting and between meetings. A tentative agenda is presented and then anyone can add items or suggest a different order.
ROLES
The facilitator has usually volunteered at a previous meeting, and asks people at the start of the meeting to volunteer for the remaining roles.
The facilitator’s job is to support everyone to do their best thinking, to encourage full participation, and to foster inclusive solutions.
The initial jobs of the facilitator are to: initiate introductions from the group, collect agenda items, and start on time. The facilitator role is expected to be neutral on issues talked about at the meeting, though the individual fulfilling the role may speak on behalf of their person opinion. The facilitator guides the process of the meeting. This role rotates.
Notetaker
The notetaker is responsible for writing down the agenda and taking notes on decisions made and all pertinent discussion. The notes will be kept in central location (currently on google drive) and need to be typed and sent to the main membership email list (currently thewarren@riseup.net)
Timekeeper
The timekeeper is responsible for keeping the group accountable to the time limits set for each agenda item and the meeting. They are expected to continuously update the group on remaining time.
Everyone: Self-Facilitation
All present should work to assure that the meeting runs as smoothly as possible by being aware of their own participation. Everyone at the meeting is responsible for respecting space for others viewpoints: by raising their hand and waiting to be acknowledged by the facilitator before speaking; being concise; sticking to the agenda item; being honest about their viewpoints, feelings and ideas; actively listening to others comments and; not dominating the conversation.
Meetings are open to the public and are wheelchair accessible. Childcare may be available – you are welcome to ask.